Angel: Everything that could go wrong has...my water heater up and DIED out of nowhere last Wednesday, and I had to wait until yesterday before it got fixed...almost a whole week with no water for the upstairs bathrooms, and I couldn't even do laundry! And I had to use my grandma's bathroom downstairs...
This is just ridiculous, I hate this outbreak so much...and my sister does too! She was supposed to be on campus at her school this year for summer classes, but now she has to do it online and stay here while doing that since they switched it to online learning for the summer semester too...hopefully I don't have to do that for the fall.
I have 6 episodes left for the last season to write. I dreaded this so much, but I have to move on because I have other plans...
Also, I noticed something from YouTube. I don't know if this is a coincidence or not since it's from 4 days ago, but there is a video called Tangled the Series Varian Harmony Build Test. It's just a test animation of five seconds with Varian in his lab in his season 3 outfit, though I still find it...well, not sure how to feel XD I guess a bit flattered, but I'm like 95 percent sure it's a coincidence.
A long time ago...
A yellow Lorb looked back in fear as he ran through the grass. He raced up to a flight of stairs, thunder crashing. He sprinted up the steps, looking back again. A few Lorbs chattered angrily once they caught sight of the yellow Lorb, chasing after him. The little Lorb looked ahead at a mantle, surrounded by two lit torches. The Lorbs ran towards the top, the yellow Lorb looking at them in horror. He dug into his bag and pulled out a strange idol that had three pairs of eyes on it.
He planted the idol on the mantle, turning around. He acted quickly to grab a rock, the idol glowing red. He tried to destroy it, but his eyes turned red, causing him to grab the idol. The other Lorbs tried to grab it, but he dropped it instead, and it went flying into the space below...
Present Day
Music is being played by the happy Lorbs as Lance and Hook Foot are dancing. Cass and Eugene are sitting on logs as they circle a bonfire. Varian has made a desk for himself in front of a cottage nearby, pouring in some chemicals. Harmony and Rapunzel aren't there with everyone for some reason. Silver, Fidella, and Max bob their heads to the music.
"Boy, Lorbs sure do know how to party. Huh, Blondie?" Eugene asks while holding a coconut drink. He looks to see that the two are missing. "Where's Blondie? Or Brownie for that matter?"
"I'm sure they're on their way," Cass smiles at him. "After all, who would want to miss this?" She gestures to Lance and Hook Foot clapping and dancing. The three horses just smile as they look on. Cass looks over her shoulder. "Varian, you've been working for days now. I know you wanna free your father, but it's good to have fun too."
"No, Cassie," He sighs, shaking his head. "I can't stop now. This is too important."
"Let the kid work," Eugene shrugs towards Cass. "If that's what he does for fun, who are we to stop him? And besides, he needs to concentrate on Quirin."
The two sisters are admiring all the birthday lanterns their parents would release. "Look at this one!" Rapunzel points to one. "They embroidered my name on it. Ooh! And this one, it must be a—a—a portrait of whoever made it. Ooh, look at this, it's-it's-uh...I don't know what it is."
Harmony looks over her shoulder at the scribbles. "Oh! That was the orphans. It was their turn to pitch in for designs that year."
"I still can't get over how many there are, for both of us," Rapunzel smiles at all the lanterns. Pascal grabs one and accidentally rips it. Daisy catches him before he could fall, shaking her head at what he did.
"I'll fix it," Harmony digs into her skirt and pulls out a needle and thread. When she leans towards the lantern, she sees something. "Huh..."
"Guys, this lantern is decorated with our father's crest."
"And look," Harmony tilts the lantern a bit for Rapunzel to see that there's a letter inside it. The older sister takes it into her hands.
"Did you know about this letter?"
"No," The girl shakes her head. She gasps when she opens it up.
"It's from Dad. My dearest Rapunzel..."
It's been seven years since I last held you in my arms. In that seven years, not a moment passes that I don't think of you, about how I would give anything to hold you just one more time. Your sister, Harmony, as I mentioned before, is growing up without you...but I can't wait for you to meet her. She's so intelligent at 3 years old, creative, and kindhearted. And to this day and many more, there is no regret into bringing her into this world. She said her first word Papa not too long ago, and loves to deem me as such. Though I still imagine you as the baby we lost, I know wherever you are, you've grown, but no matter how long...
"You are away or how far you go, know that Corona will always be your home."
After she finishes reading it, she wipes away a tear. Harmony sniffles, putting a hand to her heart. "Papa..." She murmurs softly. She wishes she could hug him right now, but...she can't.
"Oh, Dad," Rapunzel puts the letter to her heart. "I miss them, guys." She walks back to go join the others, Harmony following after her.
"I remember when that happened," She smiles wistfully. "I said Papa when he gave me a piggyback ride. I wouldn't stop calling him Papa the whole day..."
While she was stuck in that castle...she did have good memories as well...it was, and still is, her home.
Lance wiggles his legs around and bows when he's done. "Ha! Thank you, uncharted island!"
"Huh, I had no idea Lance was so graceful," Cass chuckles a little.
"Wait for it," Eugene says knowingly. Cass stares in confusion and notices that Lance is bowing a little too close to...
Lance sniffs the air. "Um, any—anyone else smell burning?" He looks at his pants to see smoke coming from them. He screams, everyone looking at him. "Ow! Ooh! That's hot!" Hook Foot laughs at him, Varian rolling his eyes and looking back to his formulas.
"I'd give it a seven for effort," Shorty calls out while buried in sand.
"Let the celebration continue!" Alfons declares, the music starting again. Cass and Eugene laugh as Rapunzel sits between them. Harmony walks up to Varian, hands behind her back.
"Find anything?"
"No..." He sighs a bit, running a hand through his hair. "I don't get it! Why is this so hard? I created the amber, I should know how to get rid of it!"
"Hey," She places a hand on his shoulder softly. "We'll find the answer, Vari. I promised you, remember? Don't stress yourself out right now."
"But I can't just sit and do nothing," He looks up at her, noticing her melancholy face. "Are you okay, Mona? You look a little down."
"I, uh..." She looks away. "I guess so."
"Mona," He gives her a semi-serious look. "You can tell me."
"Maybe later. Right now, just focus on your father. But thanks for your patience."
"Just...if you need to talk, I'm here."
She smiles a bit, kissing his cheek and leaving him some pineapple she found. He takes a bite, smiling towards her as she walks towards the others. She wipes off her skirt, sitting down on the sand. Eugene stands up and offers his hand to Rapunzel.
"May I have this dance, milady?"
She looks briefly towards Pascal and smiles. "You bet." She takes his hand and Pascal jumps off into Harmony's lap. He looks up at the girl as she sadly looks towards the ground. Cass watches the two dance and Eugene dips her. She looks towards three Lorbs hugging and stands up, looking just as sad as her sister.
"I, um...I just need a moment," She walks away, opening up the letter she found in front of some lanterns.
"Blondie?" She tenses up, quickly hiding the letter. She wipes away her eyes again. Eugene approaches her slowly. "You alright?"
"It's just...these lanterns, all the celebrating, they remind me of home. I was so excited to see the world that I guess I never really thought about how much I would miss everyone."
"Oh, you're just a little homesick," He tells her. "By tomorrow morning, you'll be just fine."
She smiles a little.
"Hey, you okay?" Cass glances at Harmony, who looks up at her friend.
"Oh, uh..." She rubs her arm. "Well...I read a letter from Dad...when I was 3 and my sister was still missing. About how much he loves us both, and...I just feel...sad that he's not here right now. Or everyone else from Corona. I know that I was stuck there for 14 years, but stuck or not...it's where I grew up."
"You're just homesick," Cass smirks a bit. "But I thought you didn't like being stuck at home all the time."
"Well, yeah, I didn't, but it's where I lived my life, Cass. Where I learned how to walk, how to invent, how to fire an arrow for the first time. And...I missed Rapunzel. A lot. I didn't know what she was like since she was a newborn when she was gone, but...I knew I loved her. And that she would love me after finding out who I am and what I could do..." She looks at her left hand.
When she was old enough to understand, she was told the full story of what happened to her sister. The rest of her years spent, she would always imagine what her older sister would look like, painting pictures of her. She wished every day to meet her, even when she wasn't herself for a few years. Deep inside her heart, she longed for Rapunzel to come back. She always imagined her older sister to be sweet, smart like her, and to love all things.
"She still does," Cass smiles at the girl. "I'm sure you'll find a way to get past being homesick. You always do, after all."
"Thanks, Cass."
However, Rapunzel still has that sad look on her face the next morning, a telescope nearby on the table. Pascal crawls over to the woman, rubbing his chin. He pushes her lips apart to create a smile, but she drops it a few seconds later. He squeaks despondently and she sighs.
"I'm sorry, pal. I thought I'd be over being homesick by now."
He squeaks, pointing towards outside. "You're right. I should go out and face the day, huh? Are you up to do some exploring?" She pokes his belly and he squeaks happily, holding his stomach. "I'll ask Harmi if she wants to join!"
Rapunzel knocks on the door.
"Just a second!" The girl calls out from inside, opening the door a few seconds later. "Hey Punz. What's up?"
"I was thinking we could have a sister walk on the beach!" Rapunzel gestures to outside. "What do you say?"
Harmony looks over her shoulder, where Varian is still hard at work. "Vari, I'm going for a walk with Rapunzel. Do you need anything?"
"Mm," He hums, waving it off. She rolls her eyes in amusement, closing the door.
"He's been like that since this morning. I hope he realizes that alchemists need breaks too," She looks back towards the hut a bit in disappointment. If he spends all his time doing work, then she can't really enjoy her journey with him...and he is returning to Corona whenever they get close to the Dark Kingdom.
The two princesses walk along the shore. "You're right, Pascal, it's gorgeous," She smiles at everything around her. "The whole island is. And so is your skirt, Harmi. Can you tell me where you got the fabric from?"
"One of the ship's sails," She lightly touches the skirt. "Since we can't use it anymore, I thought why not borrow it?"
"Ooh, very resourceful," Rapunzel puts her hands on her hips as she looks at the outfit. Bells chime in the distance, getting their attention. "Do your hear that?"
"Yeah...what is that?" Harmony murmurs as they follow the sound. And somehow, the bells are blocking off her senses...
They walk though a small opening, following the sounds to a dead end. "Hm..." Harmony hums a bit as they look around. Then Rapunzel sees something glowing behind some leaves. The two sisters glance to each other, and Harmony brushes the leaves away to see something covered in moss. Rapunzel takes it and wipes it off...
To reveal the same idol that fell in that area many years ago. "What is this?" Rapunzel examines it.
"Why do I feel like I've seen this...?" Harmony murmurs as she eyes the idol. The eyes from it glow green, and it reflects in both of their eyes.
"Rapunzel..." Her eyes widen at the voice. She turns around, shocked to see their father standing right there.
"Dad?"
"What?" Harmony asks in confusion.
"How-How did you—I mean, what are you-" She stammers in shock, Pascal, Daisy, and Harmony looking around. "Oh! You're here!" She runs up and he hugs her.
"Rapunzel, how I've missed you."
"Oh! I've missed you so much. Harmi, look, it's Dad!" She turns around to her sister, but she doesn't look as thrilled as Rapunzel does. "I wish we would've known that you were coming. We would've planned a whole celebration with activities and games and music and a welcome banner, like a giant welcome banner."
Frederic just chuckles and she smiles widely. "Rapunzel, there's no need for that. Seeing you again is all that matters," He holds her arms, bringing her close.
"You have no idea how happy this makes me. Since we found your letter attached to the lantern, I've been so homesick. But now that you're here and-" She then realizes that he came here out of the blue, with no possible way of him knowing their exact location. "Wait, wait, wait. How did you get here?"
"Don't worry about that. Just know that as long as you hold this statue, I'll always be here," He places the idol in her bag. "You'll never have to feel that sadness again..." Once it's in her bag, he's gone, and she looks around, wondering what just happened.
"What? Did that just happen? Pascal? Harmi? Daisy?"
They don't answer, looking to each other in slight concern.
Owl hoots as he flies around. "We got a visual. They're coming," Cass smiles at Eugene.
"Alright, did everyone sign the cheer-up card for Rapunzel and Harmony?" He looks to everyone except Varian.
"Sure did," Lance calls out.
"Me too," Hook Foot chimes in. Max neighs in confirmation. "Well, except for Varian. He's in his zone right now."
"Again? What—oh, that kid needs to relax," Eugene drags a hand down his face. He can't leave his desk not even to sign a card? Is he really that deep under with this? "Shorty?"
Shorty is chewing something and swallows it. "In my defense, let the record show the card was made of cheese."
"The card was not made of cheese..." Eugene murmurs at this, realizing that Shorty ate the card.
"Agree to disagree."
"Hi guys!" Rapunzel greets with a smile, waving to them. Harmony follows close behind, but she still looks worried.
"Hey, look who cheered up," Cass notices with a small grin.
"Yup! And wait until you see why. It is only the most incredible thing ever," She holds up the idol.
"I give it a seven for effort," Shorty states as Harmony joins the group.
"I have no clue what she's talking about. After she grabbed that thing, she was smiling, but it doesn't feel natural," She whispers to them.
"Rapunzel, my darling girl." She turns around and laughs at her father.
"It's so good to see you, Dad," The woman hugs him happily. "See! I mean, can you believe it?"
They glance to each other, seeing what Harmony's getting at because Rapunzel is actually hugging a flower.
"Why aren't you guys more amazed by this?" She tugs at the plant as if tugging her father's sleeve. They continue to stay silent and she looks between them and the plant. "One second. Why can't they see you?"
"She's back..." Lance chuckles nervously. "But I don't know if she's all there."
"...Wait! I know this idol now!" Harmony examines it closely. "That's the Idol of Vershaftbezeigungengien. A word gag of German that doesn't really translate to anything, but it grants the illusion of happiness to whoever holds it."
"You have a point. Maybe you have to be holding it to see anything," She gives the idol to Eugene. It glows and he laughs it off.
"Blondie, I think your homesickness might be getting to your-" He turns around and sees a giant boat. "Sweet tomatoes! The royal yacht! And look! My likeness is carved upon its wondrous bow." In his mind, a carving of himself is in front. "Now we can get off the island and sail. Blondie, you fill my world with amazing things, you know that? The statue brings all the happy."
They stare at him as he's standing on top of an annoyed Max.
Cass takes her turn and is sword-fighting with her father like she used to. "Nicely done, but I don't think I taught you this," He swings towards her feet and she jumps.
"I picked up a thing or two out here on the road."
Hook Foot and Lance stare as she's fighting the air, jumping and retaliating back. "Whoo! Good one!" She laughs, hitting Hook foot as she jumps past the duo. Cass runs past Rapunzel, who has a big smile on her face.
Max holds it next, putting away criminals back in Corona. In actuality, he's hitting Hook Foot against a tree.
"Cut it out, would you? Ow!" He cries out in pain, Harmony giggling at him. Rapunzel smiles weakly towards the display as she looks as normal as possible.
"I don't know what kind of juice this is, but keep it coming," Lance is living the high life when it's his turn, wearing a crown and sipping from a golden gauntlet. But he's really eating sand from a coconut.
"Agree to agree!" Shorty eats some too, to the disgust of everyone else. Pascal looks up to Rapunzel, who is slowly growing impatient as she eyes the idol.
In Hook Foot's imagination, Seraphina is playing with his hair. He sighs happily, the others laughing as he's touching a bird.
"He's in love with that bird."
"You wanna give it a try, Brownie?" Eugene asks her as Hook Foot tosses the idol to him. He holds it out to the girl, who backs away a bit.
"I don't know..."
"What's all this about?" Varian arrives from the hut.
"Rapunzel found this idol where it can show you happiness!" Lance gestures to the idol. "Give it a shot, little man!"
"No way," He shakes his head. "You can't have happiness without sadness. I-It's impossible. I don't need to use that thing to get something I feel from inside of me. I'd rather take my chances going on the journey following the black rocks."
"Uh, uh, okay!" Rapunzel snatches it away from Eugene. "Give it back!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. What gives, Raps?" Cass looks at her accusingly.
"Yeah, Blondie, since when are you not into sharing?" Eugene asks her.
"What?" She just laughs it off. "Not into sharing? Me? No, no, no, no, no, no. No, I-I love to share. It's just that I don't want to use up, uh, all of the magic all at once. You know? Okay, bye!" And with that, she runs off with the idol.
"Mom! Finally! Oh! How I've missed you!" Rapunzel exclaims inside the treehouse to her smiling parents. "I've missed you so much. You have no idea. Ulf!" He pretends that he's in a box. "You know, I didn't think that I would miss the miming, but I did! And, uh, Friedborg, you're-you're here!"
She beams at her. "It is so wonderful to have all of you here."
Pascal guides Harmony and Daisy inside, where they see Rapunzel talking to pillows. "Ugh! It's like they were holding onto that statue forever and I would have done anything to get it back."
"Um...Rapunzel?" Harmony asks slowly, getting her attention. "Are you okay? You're not acting like yourself."
"I'm fine!" She smiles happily, holding out the idol to Harmony. "Just see!"
"No. I don't wanna grow crazy trying to get it back when you clearly want it for yourself. At least the others don't want it as much as you did."
"I will do anything to get that statue back," Cass narrows her eyes from outside. "You create a diversion. I'll sneak around the side of the hut," She draws out the plan to Max, who whinnies towards her. "What do you mean I should be the diversion?"
He neighs again and she drops the stick. "What? Me in a tutu is more distracting than you in a tutu? Oh ho ho ho! I beg to differ, horse!"
"I got it," Eugene plucks a flower. "I'll ask her on a date. Then sweet talk her into giving me the statue, and if that doesn't work, I go full smolder. The blaze!" He closes his eyes and then purses his lips together, raising a brow. A crab actually swoons, fainting. "Then I swipe it while she's lost in the magic." He laughs like a mad man. "This is diabolical."
Lance is writing this down on his left hand. "Smolder, swipe, lost in magic, ha ha ha." He giggles, rubbing his hands together...then he remembers that the ink is still fresh. He gasps at his smudged hand.
Hook Foot is sitting on the roof, unhooking his hand. He attaches it to a fishing pole, which lowers into the ceiling.
Varian looks at all of them with a worried frown from the hut. That idol was changing all of them, making them selfish, including Rapunzel herself. How far were they going to go when they have to realize life can't go on without sadness? It's an emotion that has to be learned...something that Harmony taught him. She's the exact example: she wasn't happy all the time being trapped at home, never being allowed to go outside the castle...but she learned to deal with the consequences that her power can wield.
The door knocks and Rapunzel cringes over her shoulder. "Blondie, hello." She rushes to the door. "Can you come out?" He giggles behind his palm at his plan. Rapunzel looks over the window to see him, wincing. Then she sees Lance walking over with flowers.
"Date, smolder, and...ooh."
Her mouth opens wide, looking over at Cass and Max sneaking over. She shushes him and she runs back inside.
"Pascal, Harmi, Daisy, they're coming after the statue," She hugs it to her chest. "Huh, well, they're not gonna get it." The three look at each other, surprised by her tone. "Don't they know that I'm the one that needs it the most? Uh, you just want me to come out so you can have the idol. Ha ha! I'm onto you."
"What?" He screeches a bit. "No! Are you crazy? That is not true. We collectively miss you. Right, guys?"
"But you should really put that thing back, Rapunzel," Varian calls out as he joins the group. "That idol is dangerous, and it's messing with all of your heads."
"We're fine! Right, guys?" Eugene asks them, and they smile widely, nodding. "You see? And, yes, were you to come out, it would be a fantastic opportunity to pass the ol' magical statue around and experience the ultimate happiness that we all long for deep in our hearts, but I don't think anyone out here even thought of that. Did we?"
They shake their heads no minus Varian, who stares at them.
"Okay. I will come out, but only for a second."
"This is ridiculous," Harmony pinches her nose as she watches her sister open the door. Eugene pushes it open and brings her outside, pushing her away as he gives her the flowers.
"There's my girl. Say, I was wondering, it's been awhile since we had a date."
"Really? Out of the blue?" Harmony asks as she follows after them. Max dances past them wearing a grass tutu.
"What the-"
Cass jumps onto the balcony, sneaking past Rapunzel to get the statue. "Blondie, can we focus on the romance?"
She frowns at him for the tone, which is unlike him. "Oh no," He winces as he sees Hook Foot. The man laughs, shushing him, but loses his balance and falls into the treehouse, going all the way to the bottom. Rapunzel runs back to the front door.
"OW! Watch the hook, klutz!" Cass shouts at him, holding the idol. She pushes him off and runs past her friend, who grabs her hand.
"Hey, you give that back."
"Never! This belongs-"
"Hello, ladies," All three of them look to Lance holding flowers. "I hope I'm not interrupting, but..." He looks at his hand. "Uh, what does this say?"
"No. Just no," Harmony deadpans at him.
"Would you get out of here?" Cass yells at the man.
"Fine, fine. I can see when I'm not wanted," He walks away and the lady-in-waiting gasps to see the idol hidden behind his back.
"THIEF!"
"Gah!" He shouts, racing down the steps. Rapunzel grabs Harmony's hand and she yelps as her sister races after the others.
"Guys, you need to stop!" Varian cries out as he runs after them. Lance disappears into the bushes, Hook Foot putting his hook back on. He looks behind him to see Max in front of the others, throwing it behind the horse.
"I got it. I got it!" Eugene catches it into his hands. "Ha!"
Max kicks him, and the idol goes flying into the air. Eugene flies past Cass, Harmony, Varian, and Rapunzel as he lands in leaves. Max catches the idol with his mouth.
"Give me that statue, you nag!" Hook Foot leaps forward, grabbing the other end. Max spins him around trying to get him off. Cass tackles them onto the sand, snatching it.
"It belongs to me!"
Lance tries to get it back from her. "I ripped it off fair and square."
Eugene lands on his shoulders. "Using my gimmick!"
"We've got to do something before they tear each other apart," Rapunzel tells the teens.
"That's what I've been trying to tell you all," Varian looks up at her.
"I understand now, Varian. Thank you," She steps forward, holding out her hands. "STOP!"
They all pause in the fight, stepping away from each other. "Thank you for the bath, my good man," Shorty smiles, holding the idol. "It's been ages."
Rapunzel sighs a little in relief. "That's better. Look at what this has done to us. Yesterday, we were celebrating, and today, we are throwing punches at each other. Varian was right. The only sensible solution is to get rid of this statue once and for all." Shorty reluctantly puts it into her bag. "And since it was Harmi and me who found it in the first place, I think we should be the ones to get rid of it. I will not like it, but nothing is more important than our friendships. Yeah?"
They all nod in agreement. "Thank you. I know that wasn't easy for most of you, but...this has to be done. Come on, sis." And with that, they walk off...but then Rapunzel is laughing crazily while holding the bag. "Suckers! They fell for the oldest trick in the book, eh, guys?"
"Rapunzel, this is crazy! We can't really keep that thing forever!" Harmony stares at her while running. Rapunzel comes to a stop when she notices the eyes of the three.
"Don't give me that look. I mean, yeah, sure. I could get rid of the idol, but why? So I can be sad again? What is so wrong with something that makes me happy? Is that what you want? Huh? You all want me to be miserable for the rest of my life?"
The three look at her nervously, shaking their heads no. Harmony is very concerned now with the way Rapunzel has been acting with that idol.
"Good. Now speaking of the idol..." She holds it into her hands. "Old Lady Crowley! Hi, is that a new dress? It isn't, really? Because it looks new." Harmony nods to Pascal, who jumps off Rapunzel's shoulder and runs off to go get help with Daisy.
"Rapunzel, please listen to me," Harmony looks at her pleadingly. "This isn't you. Please...just give me the idol. I know you don't want to be sad, but this isn't the healthy way to cope with homesickness. You just have to find a way to deal with it."
"Ugh," She groans at the girl. "You know what? You need to know what you're missing out on. I'm tired of you trying to talk me down." She stands behind the brown-haired teenager, putting the idol into her hands.
"No Rapunzel, wait-!"
The idol glows green and her eyes widen as she sees both her parents, and her hair is fully brown. "Mom! Dad!"
"Hello, Harmony," Arianna smiles at her. "How does it feel to be free from the moonstone?"
"What?" Harmony looks up at her hair, smiling widely. "Oh my gosh! I don't have the moonstone's power anymore!"
Rapunzel smirks, crossing her arms. Now she finally has someone on her side for a change.
Meanwhile, the others are waiting rather impatiently for the two sisters to come back. "What's taking them so long?" Cass gasps sharply. "I bet she double-crossed us and Harmi was in on it!"
"Genius! Exactly how I would've done it," Lance murmurs while pacing around. Daisy flies into view of Varian, confusing him.
"Huh? Daisy, what are you doing here? Wasn't Mona supposed to get rid of the statue?"
She shakes her head and he looks to the others, sneaking away as he follows the duckling. "Listen, that statue was hard for all of us to let go of...well, besides Brownie and Goggles, but none of us have stronger will than Rapunzel or Harmony, and I'm sure that they're just, you know, really, really, really making sure nobody ever finds it again."
They all look at him skeptically minus Varian. "Wait, where did Varian go?" Cass looks around for him.
"What's new, Friedborg? You're looking wonderful," Rapunzel states, Harmony taking it from her.
"My turn! You've had it longer than anyone else," She holds her head up high, the older sister glaring towards her.
"Sweet Goginslpotz!" Alfons exclaims in horror as Pascal and Daisy have taken the Lorbs and Varian to the two. "It is as I feared. The idol has indeed taken hold of them. We must intervene. Rapunzel! Harmony! Please, I beg you both to put the statue down. You two are under the spell of the Idol of Vershaftsbezeigungengien. The longer you hold it, the stronger its grip on you will become."
"Mona, you said you didn't want to see anything, how could you touch it knowing what it does?" Varian asks softly, taking it from her.
"Vari, give it back!" Harmony tries to reach for it, but he holds the idol away. "I was finally talking to my parents again and I didn't have the moonstone's power weighing on me!"
"I'm sorry, Mona," He frowns a bit, knowing how much she loved her home and family. "I know you miss them and Corona, but just look at yourself. You're not thinking straight."
"I am thinking clearly!" She screams at him out of frustration and he stays silent, staring at her. This thing wasn't making her see just how this will end.
"Hold that thought, Friedborg. It seems I have been betrayed," Rapunzel glares at the trio. "You led them to us? How could you?"
"Why didn't you tell me that you were homesick in the first place?" Varian gives a disappointed look to his girlfriend.
"Like you've been paying attention!" She spits back at him. "You've been focused so much on your dad that I didn't wanna bother you with it! I know how important this is to you, and I don't wanna stand in your way, but I don't wanna go on being miserable missing Corona anymore!"
He stares at her wide-eyed, feeling bad now. He was so set on the amber that he didn't check up on her further, and he should have.
"Do not be angry with Pascal, Daisy, or Varian," Alfons steps in before it could get worse. "They have indeed saved your lives. The Idol of Vershaftsbezeigungengien destroys all who pursue it. The idol was created by a mystical Lorb warlock, Horb. It was Horb's dream to eliminate sadness and the idol was the fruit of that quest. Though his intentions were noble, Horb never considered that sadness is a much needed emotion. And so the idol's magic backfired and poisoned the minds of every Lorb he loved. His only hope was to perform a cleansing ritual atop the temple of Torb, but before he could, Horb lost the idol, dooming himself to a lifetime of sadness. If it is not stopped, the same fate awaits you both. The only way to be truly free of the idol is to know that happiness does not come from a thing, but from within your hearts."
"The same thing is happening to me and all of my friends..." Rapunzel holds out a hand to Pascal, nuzzling him with her forehead. "I'm so sorry, Pascal. I'm so sorry to everyone, actually."
"Vari..." Harmony murmurs sadly to him, taking his hand. "I'm so sorry I yelled at you, I didn't mean it..."
"I forgive you," He smiles softly, rubbing her hand with his thumb. "I know that I haven't been focusing on us lately, but...I'm going to change that. I promise."
She smiles back at him. "I just want you to balance yourself, Vari."
"Wait, so if it's evil, then why didn't you sense it, Harmi?"
"I didn't at first. This thing is so powerful it messed up my senses," She gestures to the idol.
"I will take the idol to the temple and perform the ritual. It's not safe for you to go yet. Chorb! Dorb! The Greufenmittens!" The mittens that block the idol's power are put onto his hands and he holds them out to the idol. Rapunzel slowly hands it over, but her finger lingers on it when it glows red. Her eyes glow red and she snatches it back. "What are you doing?!"
"Rapunzel, stop!" Harmony cries out at this, trying to take it back. Her eyes turn red as well and then the Lorbs turn into Varian, shocking them both.
"Hello, girls," The illusion smirks evilly.
"What?" They murmur, backing away slowly. The real Varian looks at them in confusion, wondering what they're seeing.
"I need your father to help me with a little experiment," He has a beaker in his hand as their father appears, tied up.
"Girls, help!"
"Get away from him, Varian!" They push away the Lorbs.
Harmony catches eye of something and stops. She slowly steps closer as she looks at it in awe.
Up there on a cliff is a mural of Corona painted on a wall of planks, featuring her parents and the rest of the citizens. And because she's not holding the idol...it's not an illusion. This mural was real...and then it hits her. Happiness can't be felt without sadness. Tough times have to happen because that was just reality and the world they live in...
"The Greufenmittens!" Alfons shouts as they fall off his hands. The eyes glow red as the leader touches it. The Lorbs surround the object and takes possession of them. "Change of plans, girls and Varian. You will be our prisoners and the Idol of Vershaftsbezeigungengien shall stay with us."
Pascal, Daisy, and Varian look in annoyance towards the two princesses. All of them are tied up in a small hut. "Guys, stop looking at us like that."
"It's not like we wanted this to happen," Harmony defends herself, but they narrow their eyes further.
"Okay, fine! We know! We know! We blew the chance to get rid of the idol of versha—vorken—vein—the idol—and now we're still homesick, we lost the statue, deceived all of our friends, and endangered the island!" The three nod in agreement. "See, I admitted it. There, are you happy?"
"And yes, I should have talked to you about it, and I shouldn't have taken the idol for myself, and we should've destroyed it," Harmony tells Varian, who stays silent. "...Are you mad at me?"
"...Mona, what did you see?"
"What?" She blinks at him, baffled.
"When your eyes were red, what did you see? Y-You both said my name, why?"
The two say nothing as they look to each other. They weren't sure how he'd handle it once either one of them told him...
"Please...I need to know. Tell me."
Rapunzel nods at Harmony, who turns to him. "...We saw you trying to hurt our father. And we were trying to stop you. That's why we pushed the Lorbs."
"...Wow, um..." He looks away, clearing his throat. "I..."
"Varian...it was just an illusion. The idol was messing with our heads. You know that," Rapunzel speaks up.
"It could've happened," He squeezes his eyes shut.
"Vari...I don't hold any anger or regret towards you," Harmony shakes her head slowly. "I brought you with us for a reason. So that you would see just how valuable is to have friends. Besides...you can't have happiness without sadness. Which I realized after I pushed them away."
Varian opens his eyes, smiling a little.
Outside, they can hear the Lorbs fighting over the idol.
"Guys, there you are," They look to see Eugene and Cass entering.
"Eugene, Cass," Rapunzel says in relief. "Oh, thank goodness. How did you find us?"
"Everyone was worried when you didn't come back and when Varian disappeared all of a sudden. I'm assuming he went to go find you," Cass looks to Harmony, who nods her head.
"What is with the Lorbs?" Eugene wonders while trying to undo Rapunzel's knots. "Why would they do this to you?"
"It's the statue," Rapunzel looks away.
"What? Because you got rid of it? None of what the idol showed us was real anyway. It was just false happiness. They should be thanking both of you for getting rid of it."
"Yeah, about that..." She starts off, Harmony whistling awkwardly.
"Raps, Harmi, what did you do?" Cass asks accusingly.
"I lied to everyone. I just wanted that happy feeling again, and I convinced my sister to do the same by letting her have a turn with the idol. And-"
"Wait, so you didn't get rid of it?"
"No, they didn't," Varian shakes his head. "Pascal, Daisy, and the Lorbs led me to them, and then when the girls dropped the idol, they took it and tied us up."
"And they're growing more hostile by the minute," Rapunzel glances outside. "So once you free us, we can take it to the top of the temple and..." She looks back to see that the two are gone. "Oh, come on!"
"Hang on," Harmony sighs, sitting up. "If I can just focus my hand..." She creates black rocks to cut through their ropes.
The Lorbs stop short to see the others. "That statue belongs to us," Eugene points at them.
"We laugh at your statue claim," Alfons retorts back. "Ha ha!"
"Nobody laughs at my claim and gets away with it," Lance crosses his arms. "Get 'em, Cass."
She growls as they run forward, fighting with the Lorbs. They're so focused on having the idol that they don't notice that the others have gotten free. The three run up to a cottage, watching as Max chases after Alfons.
"There's the statue."
"And there's the temple where we have to destroy it," Varian points to their left.
Rapunzel smirks a little, reaching towards her hair. "Do you think we're within 70 feet?" Pascal gives her a wink and a thumbs up.
"Oh yeah, totally," Harmony smiles, Rapunzel knocking the idol onto the sand with her hair.
"Quick, give me the bag," Rapunzel captures the idol with her hair and throws it into the bag.
"We need to hurry before they notice," Varian stares at everyone.
"Okay, all we gotta do is get this idol to the top of that temple before they see us. Doesn't look too bad."
"Easy for you to say," Harmony murmurs under her breath and they run for the steps. Alfons and Eugene are fighting each other.
"Give me back the idol!"
"How can I give it to you if I don't have it?" Eugene tries to pull him off.
"You don't have it? But then who do have it?"
"Alfons! Alfons! Look!" Two Lorbs point towards the trio as they're halfway up the temple.
"Oh no! Look, they're trying to destroy the idol of Vershaftsbezeigungengien!"
They all shout as they charge towards the temple. "Get them!"
The three turn around to see the others approaching. "Well, that's just great," Varian mutters at the sight of them.
"Hurry!" Harmony urges them as they get to the top. They see the mantle up ahead.
"There it is."
Varian looks back to see their friends on their trail. Rapunzel grabs their hands and pulls them forward. She puts the idol on the rings, holding a rock over it. She's about to destroy it when the idol glows red.
"Rapunzel! Please! Please don't do this."
Her red eyes look up at her father. "What if we never see you again? We miss you so much. Don't you miss us?"
"I...I...I have to," She stammers sadly. She did miss them, but this idol was not doing the right thing for her.
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that!" He narrows his eyes at her, friends and family surrounding him. They step forward and the two teens look towards her.
"Rapunzel! You have to destroy that thing!" Varian exclaims to her.
"Sis, please! You know that you have to!"
"Alright, Blondie, hand it over-" Eugene stops speaking as all four of them see her holding the idol.
"Please, I miss you all so much, but I have to do this." She's struggling to hold it.
"Let's get her while she's distracted," Cass points to the blonde.
"Guys, no!" Harmony protests to them, Eugene pushing past her. Pascal tries to stop him, but he grabs the chameleon.
"Come on, frog, out of the way."
He flicks his tongue into Eugene's face. "Ow!"
Varian and Harmony stand in front of Rapunzel, holding out their arms. Pascal grabs Cass' hair and swings around, kicking Lance in the face. Daisy pecks away at Eugene's hair and he tries to get her off. He manages to move away from her, stepping in front of the two.
"Move, guys."
"Absolutely not!" Harmony shakes her head furiously.
"You're both her friends, you have to snap out of it!" Varian tells them, glaring.
"You little!" Cass attempts to squeeze the two, but they look up at her pleadingly.
"Guys, please!" Rapunzel pleads with them.
"We have to help her destroy it," Cass turns to the others. "You wanna be like them?" She points to the Lorbs, who are running up to them.
"It's okay, Blondie, we're here to help," Eugene assures her. The four surround her while Max, Hook Foot, and Lance fight off the Lorbs. Eugene hands her the rock.
"You are not my father! You are just an illusion. The people I love are what make me happy, and I won't let you hurt them anymore," Rapunzel shakes her head.
"Rapunzel, if you destroy the idol, you'll never be happy again!"
She grits her teeth. "Happiness doesn't come from a thing! It comes from inside my heart!" And with that, she slams the rock against the idol. A vortex appears above the fake friends and family, sucking them away.
"Rapunzel!" 'Frederic' calls out and they disappear. The Lorbs turn back to normal, confused by what's going on. Max blows one away, the four comforting the saddened Rapunzel.
"How you feeling?"
She sighs slowly, rubbing her neck. "Homesick. But I think I have a way to deal with it. Harmi, I'm curious about something. When did you snap out of it when I was still hearing the illusions?"
"I saw a mural of Corona before the Lorbs captured us...I don't know who did it, though."
Varian clears his throat, rubbing his neck. "Ahh...that would be me."
"What...?" She blinks in shock. She knew that he was skilled with drawing, but he created a whole mural? Just for her?
"I was going to take you to it so that you wouldn't feel homesick anymore...it took me a whole night. I started it just after you told me to focus on my father, actually. So I...had to keep it a secret."
"Wait, so you created that mural to bring home to Harmi?" Cass asks slowly, the girl staring at him.
"I can't believe you did that," Rapunzel blinks slowly.
"But I thought you just wanted to focus on how to get rid of the amber. That's all you've been doing," Eugene raises a surprised brow.
"Yeah, uh...I guess I did at first, but..."
Harmony's eyes widen slowly. He put her first...despite the fact that his father has been stuck there for months now...and she got angry with him for not paying more attention. Well, she wasn't thinking straight, so she's not sure that counts.
Harmony slowly walks up to Varian, touched by his gesture. Once she reaches the boy, she rewards him with a passionate kiss. He's surprised, but closes his eyes and kisses back, hugging her waist. Rapunzel puts her hands to her heart, about to shed a tear on how sweet the moment was. The others look on with smiles.
She pulls away a few seconds later, hugging him tightly as she sniffles.
"Thank you, Vari..." She whispers into his ear, the others slightly clapping for Varian. Harmony rests her chin on his shoulder as he smiles, leaning into her touch. "And I'm really sorry that I took the idol. I didn't want to, but..."
"It's okay," He runs a hand through her hair gently. "I know you miss your parents. But hey..." He pulls back to look at her, their foreheads touching. "If you're ever homesick again...you can just talk to me, Mona. You helped me, now let me help you."
She smiles, humming slightly. "I think I can live with that."
The two sisters sit together on the beach, holding one lantern each.
We're still sad to be so far away from home and there's nothing wrong with that. The two hold hands as they release the lanterns into the air. We can be independent and see the world and still miss home. That's just part of life. Nobody can be happy all the time. And if we're sad, it's a reminder that we love our family. When we miss you the most, we have our friends to lean on. Until we see you again, you are always in our hearts. Love, Rapunzel and Harmony.
The king and queen of Corona look outside as the lanterns come into view...
"Harmi, I'm really sorry I forced you to take the idol," Rapunzel murmurs after a few seconds. "I just...wanted to see home again, and..."
"I get it," She smiles softly. "And I forgive you, but...I think I'll get over my homesickness easier than you will."
"Why is that?" Rapunzel raises a brow.
"Because no matter where I go...my home is with you."
The blonde smiles softly, hugging her sister.
A knock is heard from the treehouse door, Rapunzel looking at everyone else. She walks up and opens it to see Harmony standing there, holding two boxes. "Harmi! ...How's Varian?" She hadn't had a chance yet to talk to him about what they saw.
"He's okay now," She smiles softly. "We had a nice talk about me with being homesick and him with the...vision."
"I'm glad," Rapunzel smiles back, noticing the boxes. "What do you got there?"
"Um, just stuff," She walks inside, the woman closing the door. "Uh...I was told at a young age what happened to you, and...well, since I didn't have things to do most of the time in the castle...I found something else to pass the time."
She hands Rapunzel the boxes, and she places them down on the wood table. She looks up at the teenage girl, who nods for her to open them. Her hands slowly move away the lids and she gasps sharply. Inside both boxes are drawings, and they look to be a bit old. However, there's no mistaking that Harmony's handwriting is on all of them.
"What are these...?" She takes one into her hand, where a girl has been drawn with blonde hair. "Are these supposed to be me?"
"Well, what I imagined you'd be with each year," Harmony rubs her neck sheepishly. "I drew portraits of you, wondering just what you looked like and how you turned out to be...I wasn't totally wrong, which I'm glad to find out today. I'm giving these to you because...I figured that they might help with homesickness."
Rapunzel smiles up at her sister. "That is so sweet...I can't believe all those years, you took the time to do that despite what you were dealing with. When I first met you, I didn't know how I was going to appeal to you. How I was ever going to be a big sister to you. But now...seeing these...I'm proud to have you for a little sister. And I'm so happy that you showed me these."
Harmony smiles softly at her. The two share a warm hug. "I love you, Harmi."
"I love you too, Punzie."
Rapunzel guides the girl to the couch. "So tell me about all of them."
"Well, this one, I thought you'd have brown hair like me before I read about the Sundrop Flower. And with this one..."
Cass and Eugene smile as they look on at the two. They may miss their home...
But until they return, they have each other.